Chapter 59: Zhai Da, Class Rank #1

It was Monday again, and Class 3-8 was in its usual state of chaos.

"Any math homework not turned in yet? If not, I’m taking these to the teacher."

Chu Xiang, the study committee member and math class representative, wove through the aisles.

Class 3-8 had a full roster of 58 students, but usually, only about 40 assignments were collected.

Of course, while it looked like 40 were turned in, in reality, only a third were done by the students themselves; the rest were copied.

In truth, by the third year of high school, teachers didn't care whether homework was copied or not. It was purely a matter of some students feeling uneasy about "slacking off," and that unease leading to guilt—they were just lying to themselves.

Changes had already been happening quietly. If someone counted carefully, they would find only 55 students in the classroom today; three had stopped coming to school entirely.

This meant the youth of those three students had come to an abrupt end, and they were preparing to step into society, filled with excitement and confusion.

But the teachers wouldn't explain such things in detail. If asked, they would only calmly say, "XXX has taken leave."

When Chu Xiang passed by Zhai Da, he ignored him completely.

Following Zhai Da’s repeated "fame," he no longer dared to cause trouble for him. Among students, there existed an obscure "ecological niche."

Since Zhai Da’s niche was above his, even the girl he had a crush on had to keep quiet, not to mention that it seemed the girl he liked was actually chasing Zhai Da.

Zhai Da, however, pulled a test paper from his bag and handed it over. He had to do what he promised Ding Rong; he would try to turn in his homework starting this week. Besides, for the current Zhai Da, it didn't take much effort.

If all else failed, couldn't he just "co-create" homework with Lu Wei?

Chu Xiang asked in surprise, "You can do homework?"

Zhai Da: "Are you insulting me again?"

"No... that's not what I meant..."

As they spoke, the math teacher walked into the classroom. Chu Xiang had been shouting because the first period was math.

After collecting Zhai Da’s paper and placing the stack on the podium, Chu Xiang returned to his seat.

Because Zhai Da’s paper was on top, the math teacher specifically picked it up to look.

Then, he nodded with satisfaction...

Zhai Da, in all likelihood, probably didn't copy it...

You can't copy your way to the highest score in the class.

One had to realize that for most students at Maofang Middle School, the "bonus section" was no different from scrap paper.

Opening his thermos, the math teacher took a sip of tea, spat out two tea leaves, and began the day's lesson.

"Wu Yue, stand outside!"

After a long moment, no one in the class responded.

Zhai Da looked at Wu Yue’s seat; it was empty. He had been reading before, and only now realized that someone was missing.

The math teacher was silent for a while, his previously good mood dimming slightly: "Then let's move to the next step. A few students, come up and hand out the quiz papers. We're going over them today."

A few students from the front row volunteered to stand up, and the classroom returned to its chaotic state. Taking advantage of the moment, the math teacher said:

"In this quiz, several students showed significant improvement, especially Zhai Da, who achieved the highest score in the class."

As soon as these words were spoken, the whole class was in an uproar.

Zhai Da looked left and right... his level was only 120-130...

Are you all really that bad?

One had to know that the science math exam was worth 160 points plus 40 bonus points, making it a 200-point test... He hadn't felt particularly brilliant during the quiz, but he had improved over the last few days relying on [Lu Wei’s Math Notes].

By sheer coincidence, the person handing out Zhai Da’s paper was Lin Shuyao.

Her hand, clutching the paper, hesitated to hand it over until Zhai Da grew impatient and snatched it back himself.

Zhai Da nodded to himself.

Not bad; it was worthy of his effort.

As expected, the teacher wouldn't miss any opportunity to make an example of someone, immediately saying:

"Don't think that just because there are only a few dozen days left, there's no room for effort. Look at Zhai Da. As the saying goes, 'An old steed in the stable still aspires to gallop a thousand miles; a divine tortoise may live long, but its neck is still long...'"

(The rest of the 800-word lecture is omitted).

Meanwhile, the "old steed" Zhai Da thought: You're a math teacher, why are you spouting literary nonsense! You're just exposing your own ignorance!

Following the grading of the previous quiz, the entire day was spent going over papers for various subjects, and Zhai Da was called out by name in almost every class.

It wasn't the highest score in every subject, but he was the person with the most improvement in every one.

Being called out repeatedly, being praised repeatedly, to the point where the people in class became numb to it.

The English teacher: "There is a student in class this time who has improved greatly and deserves special praise!"

Drawing out the long note, the English teacher teased: "That is~ Zhai Da! Don't you feel a Surprise~!"

He was met with dozens of pairs of numb eyes.

Things like surprises, once they happen enough times, you just get used to them. At worst, you just go to the hospital.

Only Fan Junwei, no matter how many times it happened, clapped his hands as usual, so abruptly that even Zhai Da felt embarrassed...

With all quiz results released, Zhai Da had already calculated his own score; it was even better than his usual predictions, adding in the previous Chinese quiz.

370, first in the class.

But as the saying goes, take gains with indifference and losses with composure. As a reborn person with a mature soul, he wouldn't waste time being smug.

He was already looking down at his phone, deciding which 211 university to choose.

This was easy to choose; he could get in with his eyes closed!

After looking, oh... Jing University and Qing University were also 211s. My apologies, my apologies; I spoke too loudly just now.

Let's talk about it next month; his grades would only get better.

It was just that today, with so many small things to be proud of, the classroom felt a bit empty without that one person who was always shouting, which felt quite strange.

Zhai Da sent a text to Wu Yue, but the other party didn't reply for an hour.

It was only four characters: "Closing the net today."

Zhai Da curled his lip; he was a bit worried about this.

After all, he was a rebellious son with no blood relation, so he decided...

He would just send a text tomorrow to ask if the guy was still alive.

After the last class in the afternoon, just before evening self-study, Zhai Da packed his bag under the surprised gazes of his classmates and walked out of the classroom with a flourish.

Then he turned left, heading toward the area for the key classes.

It was the gap between evening self-study sessions, and the hallway was chaotic, but the key classes were relatively quiet. Some people walked back and forth, but most sat in their seats reading.

It was completely different from the rowdiness of the ordinary classes.

Zhai Da peered into the doorway for a moment, immediately drawing many curious gazes.

People from other classes standing at the door were quite eye-catching, especially since students in key classes basically only hung out with students from other key classes.

Finally, in the third row against the wall, near a blind spot, Zhai Da saw someone sneaking snacks.

The way she was hunched over, rustling about, was unmistakable.

Zhai Da gave a light cough: "Lu Siwen."

Lu Siwen looked up, her lips still glistening with oil, her face blank.

Once she recognized who it was, she stood up quickly, her cheeks flushing slightly.

There was a sense of embarrassment at being caught in the act of sneaking food.

Many boys in the key class stared at Zhai Da as if he were a thief stealing vegetables from their garden.

Having a boy from another class call away the prettiest girl in their class—how was this any different from killing one's father and stealing one's wife?

Even if they didn't dare to even make eye contact with Lu Siwen normally, it didn't stop them from glaring at Zhai Da with resentment, as if warning him not to have any funny ideas.

Zhai Da smiled gently, displaying his gentlemanly demeanor.

You guys have red noses all over the floor; hurry up and pick them up.